Playing table



I Aug. 21, 1934. 5 ANDERSON 1,970,877

PLAYING TABLE Filed May 17, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet l f6 av *8 ATTORNEY Aug. 21, 1934. A. E. ANDERSON PLAYINGv TABLE Filed May 17, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. /i- E. Hndenson W ATTORNEY v 5/ Patented Aug. 21, 1934 UNITED STATES isisn FATE? FFI 7 Claims.

My invention relates to tables for playing sundry card games when round disks or chips are used for markers.

One object of the invention is to provide in the table a channel for each pl'ayerin which he deposits the chips as the game proceeds and in such a manner that all chips so deposited by all the players are visible to each of them until the end of a game. In this manner every player knows how much he himself as well as the other players have staked at any time.

Another object of my invention is to provide a central opening in the table adapted to hold a receptacle or cup in which all the chips are automatically collected from the channels at the end of the game to be delivered to the winner.

A further object of my invention is to furnish a stop or stops to retain all the chips in the respective channels while the play proceeds and to provide simple means for simultaneously releasing them at the end of each game, when the chips will roll down the sloping bottom of each channel to collect in the central pot or cup.

Another. feature ofv my invention resides in subdividing the table. top into two or more sections or zones all concentric and surrounding the central opening. It will be evident that the table may be of any shape either circular or polygonal. In the formercase the zones would be of circular shape and in the latter case of polygonal shape and all similar. The outer zone is preferably covered with felt or billiard cloth and the inner zone, subdivided by the channels, consists of sector shaped .glassdisks completely filling the spaces between the channels. Beneath the glass sectors I prefer to deposit printed regulations for the game to be played at the time, so that each player may easily read them for himself. In this manner all disputes will be avoided regarding the playing of the game, without any discussion between the players. Since the glass sectors are easily removed it will be evident that the rules for one game will be exchanged for the rules of another game under the glass sectors whenever the players change from one game to another.

In the accompanying drawings one embodiment of my invention is illustrated.

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary, top plan view of my table;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section along line 2-2 of Fi 1;

Fig. 3 is a similar section along line 3-3 of Fi 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, vertical section along line 44 of Fig. 1, showing the central portion of my table;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary, front elevation of the top and leg;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation, partly in section, Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is an enlargement of a portion of Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is a section along line 88 of Fig. l, and

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary detail of the central portion of the table cap in section.

In the drawings reference character 10 repre sents the table top and 11 the legs, preferably hinged as at 12 for folding under the top.

The top 10 I prefer to divide into sections or zones, concentric, if the table is round; square, hexagonal or any other polygonal shape, if the top is many sided. In Fig. 1 the top 10 is represented as circular with a raised peripheral ridge 13, in which are furnished trays 14' for each player for keeping his chips 15 placed on edge. Toeach side of a tray 14 is shown a double pocket 16 in which the player puts his winnings stacking the chips 15 fiat on each other.

, Directly inside of the ridge 13, will be seen the outer circular section or zone 17 which I pref g erably cover with billiard cloth or felt as at 18.- This cloth is stretched perfectly flat over the outer zone 17 and held in place by an exterior ring 19 and an interior ring 20, preferably of angular cross section and pressed down in suitg able grooves in the table top. In this manner the cloth is easily removable so as to be replaced by another when damaged in any way. It will be evident that the cloth may be held in place in any other manner as by tacks or screws.

Immediately inside of the securing ring 20 is formed the inner section or zone consisting of sectors 21 preferably made of transparent material, such as glass or mica, so that a paper or similar sheet 22 with imprinted rules and reg- 95, ulations for the game to be played, can be seenthrough the transparent sectors 21. Evidently a plate sector may be used instead of the transparent one in which case the rules may be printed, painted or engraved on the upper face 100 of the sectors.

In the center of the table top 10 is an opening 23, see Fig. 6, at the innermost edge of the inner zone 21 and radially across said zone, between. the opening 23 and the ring 20, run the single or 5 double grooved channels 24 for the chips 15 which channels are set into suitable recesses in the top 10 of the table as best seen in Fig. 3. The channels have longitudinal side flanges 25 forming seats for the sector shaped plates 21 which fit 119 snugly between the sides of two adjacent channels and the ring 20. These plates may thus readily be lifted out of their seats to be exchanged for others having different rules inscribed thereon or, ii transparent, on the sheets beneath them.

As best seen in Figs. 1, 4 and 7, the central opening is filled by a cylindrical pan 2'7 with a collar or flange 23 around its top edge, by means or" which the pan 2'7 is suspended on springs 29 carried in suitable recesses 30 in the table top 10.

When the chips 15 are placed in the channels 24 they will roll down along the inclined bottoms 31 towards the central opening where the foremost or innermost chip will be stopped when resting on the flange 28 of the pan 27 mainly by the abutment ring 32 fastened on the upper surface of the table top 10 and level therewith the opening in this ring coincidessubstantially with the diameter of the pan 27. The chip is thus held back through the cooperation of the abutment ring 32 and the flange, since the distance between them is made less than the diameter of a chip. In order that the pan may not be pushed up too high by the springs 29, short lugs or studs 33 are provided around the pan 2'7 in correct position so as to engage beneath the under surface of the table top 10. In order to faciliate assembling, vertical slots 134 are furnished in the top 10 through which the lugs pass when assembling and compressing the springs 29. With a slight turn of the pan in the manner of a bayonet lock the pan will thus be held in lifted, normal position.

A cup 34 is deposited within the pan 2'7 normally resting on the bottom of the latter and of substantially the same height. A rod 35 is fastened at 135 in the bottom of the cup and extends upwards above the surface of the table top and through fiat cap 36 which normally rests with its edge on the abutment ring 32. The rod is yieldingly supported by a spring 3'7 between plates 38, 39 in the cap 36. In this manner the cup 34 may be lowered by applying a slight pressure on the top button 40 at the end of the rod 35, This pressure is now communicated from the bottom of the cup 34 to the bottom of the pan 2'7, so that the latter is lowered against the action of springs 29 until the flange 28 stands below the bottoms of the channels 31. The chips 15 are now free to pass under the abutment ring 32 to fall down into the cup 34 in which the chips from all the channels are thus collected. The cup is now lifted out by the button 40 and the contents given to the winner or winners. When the cup is removed, the springs 29 will again raise the pan 2'7 into normal position, whereupon the cup 34 is again dropped into the pan 2'? and the game may be restarted.

In the upper or fixed positions of the legs 11 I may provide a small niche 42 adapted to accommodate a tumbler 43 or smoking utensils and a tray 44 for ashes may be furnished on the lid 41 intended to close the opening of the niche when folded up.

It should be understood that the invention is not limited to the details of construction here shown and disclosed but that these may be varied Widely without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the claims.

I claim: 1. In a playing table for use with circular markers and having a top provided with a central opening and radially directed channels with inclined bottoms terminating in said opening and adapted to maintain said markers on edge, the combination with a cup shaped receptacle substantially filling said opening and with its upper edge substantially level with said channel bottoms, means for' stopping at the edge of said opening a marker placed on edge in any of said channels, and other means adapted to release said stopping means thus permitting said markers to drop into and collect in the receptacle.

2. A playing table as described in claim 1 in which said stopping means comprises a rim around the upper edge of said receptacle in conjunction with a fixed member around the upper edge of said opening.

3. A playing table as described in claim 1 in which said receptacle is yieldingly supported, said stopping means comprises a fixed member provided atthe upper edge of said opening and a rim on said receptacle and yielding means under said rim normally supporting the receptacle in said central opening.

4. In a playing table for use with circular markers and having a top provided with a central opening and radially directedchannels with inclined bottoms terminating in said opening, the combination with a cup shaped receptacle provided with'a rim member around its edge means engaging said rim, member and yieldingly supporting the receptacle in said opening, a corresponding member at the upper side of each channel cooperating with said rim member to normally form a stop for a marker placed on edge in any of said channels, and means for releasing said stop.

5. In a playing table for use with circular markers and having a top provided with a central opening and radially directed channels with inclined bottoms terminating in said opening and adapted to maintain said markers on edge, the combination with a cup shaped receptacle provided with a rim member around its edge means engaging said rim member and yieldingly supporting the receptacle in said opening, a corresponding member at the upper side of each channel cooperating with said rim member to normally form a stop for a marker placed on edge in any of said channels, and means for releasing said step, said releasing means comprising an inner cup seated in said receptacle, a cap resting on the top surface of the table and covering said opening, a yielding support adapted to suspend said cup from said cap, and an element adapted to depress said cup and receptacle simultaneously thereby releasing said stop.

6. In a playing table for use with circular markers, a top divided into an outer and an inner zone with a central opening in the inner p5 zone, a cloth covering for the outer zone, means for removably clamping the said covering, inclined radially directed channels dividing the inner zone into sectors and adapted to receive the markers and cause them to roll, actuated by 140 gravity, into said: central opening, and sector shaped fillers removably supported between said channels.

-'7. A playing table as described in claim 6 in which side fianges are provided on said channels 45 below the surface of the table top adapted to accommodate said fillers.

AUGUST E. ANDERSON. 

